The club finished 4th in the last match of the season at Kilmarnock on the 26th of August on 243 points and 4th overall for the season, a satisfying outcome given our poor start and the strength of other clubs in League Division 1. Aberdeen were runaway worthy winners once again, while the two clubs promoted from Division 2, Shettleston and Falkirk Victoria, occupied 2nd and 3rd, to the surprise of many. We were just a half league point behind Falkirk at the end. Commiserations to Kilbarchan, our fellow travellers in buses to Aberdeen and Inverness in recent seasons, who raised a fantastic effort to finish 2nd on the day, but alas it was just not enough to stave off relegation.

The strongest part of the team was in the sprints and relays, where David Clark, Ewan McArthur, Sean McCormick, Christopher Boyle and the Wilson twins David and Iain fulfilled all our hopes to post a total of 82 points. The award for competitiveness and determination must go to Sean, who ran the winner to 0.01 sec in the Guest 100m, did something similar in the B 200m, anchored the 4x100m team to a good 3rd, then gave his all on the final leg of the 4x400m; taking over in 2nd and a target for the experienced chasing Kilbarchan runner, he had lost his lead over him by half way, but decided on entering the home straight that he could maybe catch him again; as the partisan crowd raised the roof of the stand (sorry, rain shelter) Sean, eyeballs out, began to gain and to draw level as the finish line approached, but his final lunge brought us home just 0.02sec short! The last event of the match and season, always a thrilling team contest, did not disappoint as a spectacle.

Our only winner of the day was Allan Ramsay in the A 800m, where he surprised some of his rivals with his return to form after a period of annoying injuries. He timed his effort perfectly, stalking the pacemakers cunningly before a strong effort on the final bend took him into a comfortable lead, which he maintained confidently till the finish. Allan then earned more points in the 1500m, 3rd A just ahead of Steven Bryce, 'Mr Consistency', who once again threatened his pb, finishing just a second short of it with 4:13.84.

Captain Martin Hayes had got us off to a good start on the track, with a cautious 2nd in the 400m hurdles. He was saving himself for his main event, the Steeplechase, where he was hoping for a decent time despite the miserable wet weather. In this he set the pace, opening up a gap on the rest of the field and looking good for an easy victory until the young Kilbarchan athlete was seen to be gaining and full of running on the final lap; it was anyone's race coming off the final bend, but the youngster had enough to unleash a winning sprint at the line by a 0.53sec margin. Frustrating, but another thrilling finish to savour and a good time of 9:29.65 for Martin.

Our top points gatherer of the day was decathlete Euan Urquhart, who did his 3 events at the start of the match, when the rain was at its worst and affected all competitors adversely. His Pole Vault clearance of 3.60m was a fine effort under the circumstances, as he took 3rd place with the same height as two much more highly rated rivals on the countback. He braved the elements to add points in Javelin and Long Jump for a total of 32 points.

It was good to have the support of 14 athletes, though unavailability robbed us unavoidably of several major points earners and we failed to score in two events (10,000m and 110m Hurdles). Our officials on the day, without whom we can't take part, were Sheila (Field Referee) and Hugh Baillie, Susan Miller and Jim Harvie. Good to see Scotish Athletics President Leslie Roy there officiating too. Other coaches, supporters and family included the Wilson clan (with David, Iain and Gavin all competing) Julie and Tommy Boyle and Ewan McArthur's mum. See you all next season!

Hugh Stevenson

Senior Men's Team Manager

Full results will be available on League website: www.scottishleague.org.uk